The Library Needs Your Help

I suspect that the persons who read this blog already are actively helping the Pleasant Valley Free Library in one way or another, but perhaps you can spread the word.  We are shorthanded! As terms came to an end, three valuable Board members are leaving at the end of 2008--Tracey Donaldson, Teri Miller, and Barb Shapley.  We have no replacements in the wings at this time.  Last month we also lost Trustee Rick Duvall because his profession and family do not leave enough time for him to participate fully in the work of the Library Board.  As a result of these changes, the Board of Trustees is below the level of membership required by our By-Laws, and five Trustees below our normal operating level (we were a Trustee short all of last year). Thus, if you are not already a Trustee, please consider joining.  You can email me at bryanhbunch@google.com with your interest and I will happily make sure that your name is given to the proper committee of the Board. 

I should say of Tracey, Teri, Barb, and Rick that all of them plan to continue to aid the Library in several ways, just not as Trustees.

In addition to needing Trustees, we also have become short of volunteers who help the staff run the Library. The most common volunteer job is shelving books.  I was once a professional shelver (summer job while in college) and I think it is an extremely enjoyable task for anyone interested in books.  I can number dozens of my favorite books that I first discovered while shelving them.  If you notice that the same book requires shelving frequently, for example, then you will be tempted to see why it is popular.  Also, you just discover books about great topics that you otherwise might never know existed.  The main requirement for work as a shelver is a good working knowledge of the order of letters in the alphabet.  

A Trustee is expected to attend one two-hour meeting each month  (currently on the third Thursday) and to participate in at least one committee, such as nominating, building and grounds, or publicity. Some committees also meet frequently, but others have no meetings; instead, the members take duties such as helping maintain the building.  Some trustees have specific posts--the Board currently lacks a Treasurer, for example.